Don tells FG to invest in film production to check unemployment

Professor Uwemedimo Atakpa has called on the Federal Government to invest more in film production and export to check unemployment.  Atakpa said this in Uyo during the 61st inaugural lecture of the university. A professor of Theatre/Film Studies, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, he said there is need to develop and expand the film […]

Professor Uwemedimo Atakpa has called on the Federal Government to invest more in film production and export to check unemployment. 

Atakpa said this in Uyo during the 61st inaugural lecture of the university. A professor of Theatre/Film Studies, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, he said there is need to develop and expand the film industry, especially with the worsening unemployment situation in the country and the decline in oil prices in global markets.

He also called for the revamp of Calabar Free Trade Zone, noting that the studios can be a major attraction to film makers to do a variety of movies. He encouraged the Bank of Industry to take over infrastructure of film studios and run them for profit, adding that the trend will create jobs for more people in the film industry.

“The formation of film companies should be legislated and laws made to guide the conduct of the industry. For now, it looks like an all comers’ affair as the guild has no laws backing them for effective control.

“This lawlessness has even tampered with the standard of the medium. It discourages sincere labour and genuine effort faces frustration. This enigma causes colossal loss to both practitioners and the economy,” he said.

Atakpa further asked for soft revolving loans for film makers whose scripts have been scrutinised by the censor boards. He said the board must have a hand in the loan control and disbursement.

He further urged Nigerians to key into sets building as business to remove the Nigerian movies from the ordinary storytelling home videos. He lamented that most Nigerian movies rely on real houses, hotel lobbies, hotel rooms and offices, noting that the borrowed sets have problems as they were not designed originally for the purpose of film.